Coach Amre says The key to Mumbai's success this season has been taking risks, like no 10 Kulkarni's promotion to No 7 in the second innings vs Karnataka
Coach Amre says The key to Mumbai's success this season has been taking risks, like no 10 Kulkarni's promotion to No 7 in the second innings vs Karnataka
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One of the reasons for Mumbai's continuing domination in the Ranji Trophy is the ability of an individual to stand up and be counted.
On Day Two of the Ranji trophy final against Karnataka yesterday, that individual happened to be Dhawal Kulkarni.
After dismissing Karnataka for 130 to gain a lead of 103 runs, the 38-time winners frittered away the advantage succumbing to the new ball to be reduced to 51 for five in the 18th over.
Mumbai, looking to arrest the fall of wickets and shield the likes of Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar and Iqbal Abdullah from a fired-up Abhimanyu Mithun who finished with 4-39, sent in their usual number 10 into bat.
Kulkarni not only ensured that further wickets did not fall, he also scored 35 off 60 balls in his 88-minute stay and stitched together an unbeaten 57-run partnership with Abhishek Nayar as Mumbai finished Day Two at 108 for 5, a lead of 211 runs.
"I think we managed to put one over Karnataka with that move. At that stage, we had to think of something different. They would have been surprised seeing Dhawal and also bowled very short to him out of frustration when he wasn't getting out." said Mumbai coach Praveen Amre.
"We were five down so it was important that we did not lose further wickets.
"Also Mithun was bowling really well, so it was crucial that our better batsmen didn't get out at that time," said Amre.
"Dhawal had batted well in the first innings and against Delhi as well (in the semi-final) so we felt that he could do the job for us. And he did it perfectly. We have a lead that the batsmen who are to follow can build on now," said Amre.
The move, however, was fraught with a high element of risk.
Had Kulkarni been dismissed early, the batsmen to follow would have been under further pressure.
"There was a lot of risk. But we had a feeling that he would do well. And through this season, we have had to take a risk. In that sense, this was no different," Amre said.
With three in-form late order batsmen to come, Mumbai will be hoping that Nayar, who has shown tremendous grit and application to thwart the Karnataka pacers so far with a 103-ball 32, will be able to guide the team to a position of comfort. With the pitch still aiding the pacers, even a target of 300 could be difficult to chase down.
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